Emeline had only been home a few days, and while things were getting settled and organized on the ranch, there was still a lot to do. But still, she needed to talk to Clara about the future of the Lickskillet, and how the young woman was thinking on the matter. Between the fire at her father's farm and expecting a child soon, Clara might not be interested in running the place anymore.
Besides, Emeline had a few presents for Clara, and she needed to get supplies in town, so she'd sent word to Clara just to close the cafe for the day, put on coffee, and she'd be by around ten.
The day was pleasant, for autumn, and Emeline enjoyed the drive to town, accompanied by a couple of the hands, who would take care of getting some of the supplies after they dropped her, and a couple of small crates, off.
"Anybody home?" she called as she stepped through the doors. Even with no customers, the place brought a twinge of nostalgia and longing...she'd put a lot if effort into this, and was proud of what she'd accomplished. It had been an important phase of her life, but things were changing...
Clara had done as Emeline had requested of course. She closed the diner, she had even taken the extra step of putting up a sign on the front door yesterday that the store would be closed the next day. After all it was Emeline's business, she could make such decisions even though from a strictly business point of view, it would cost profits.
However, the good thing was Emeline was coming to visit, she was delighted about that part. Now she would hear all about the grand trip the woman and Pike had taken. Oh Emeline had sent letters but hearing it all in words would no doubt bring out much more details. It had to have been an incredible adventure alright.
Clara had coffee on the stove and even cut a slice of pie for each of them to snack on and then waited for the woman's arrival. The door opened then and before Clara could warn a prospective customer the establishment was closed, there was that familiar voice and then Emeline herself. She looked like her old self.
"Anybody home?"
"Just me is all," Clara rose to her feet, not quite as rapidly as she used to, the baby was quite far along now.
There was still a spring in her step as she approached the woman then did a most un-Clara like thing, she gave Emeline a big hug.
"I missed you so," she declared in all sincerity.
"Me, too!" Emeline returned the hug as best she could, considering there were two babies between them! "I had a grand time, but I'm so glad to be home, with friends and familiar places...the house is amazing, you'll have to come see it some time...and the horses! Oh, Clara they are magnificent!"
Laughing, Emeline stepped back, still holding Clara's hands. "I am rambling on! There's so much to talk about, but first, I have some gifts for you. There are some parcels out front, and we ordered a cradle for you...oh, nothing too elaborate, I know the room is limited, but it rocks, so you can soothe the little one to sleep. How are you doing, anyway?"
Well she had seen her share of horses before, Clara was never much enamored with the big animals though of course they were useful indeed even necessary to transportation and other chores. However.......Emeline's new house?
"Oh your house? I would love to come and visit. I can only imagine how wonderful it must be. We must make it so, the visit," Clara was more than willing to accept the offer.
Emeline was not done though.
"I am rambling on! There's so much to talk about, but first, I have some gifts for you. There are some parcels out front, and we ordered a cradle for you...oh, nothing too elaborate, I know the room is limited, but it rocks, so you can soothe the little one to sleep. How are you doing, anyway?"
"Goodness, you did not have to! I was just looking at a cradle in a catalog the other day, Jacob and I agreed it was a bit.........pricey. Now we have one, thank you!" this time Clara was beaming, a rarity for the sober girl.
"I am doing well, naturally this is my first pregnancy so was not quite sure what to expect but so far so good. The morning sickness was unpleasant but I seem to be past it now. And....this is exciting...well at least to me. The baby kicks sometimes! To know one carries a new life inside your body...it is both amazing and sobering. I cannot wait to see him....or her."
"That's a perfect way to put it. Even though this is my third..." She moved her hand to rest over her belly. "It's still amazing and exciting." She didn't mention her personal misgivings, having lost her two previous children...it was something she tried to put aside, but that wasn't always easy.
"Have you let him feel the baby kick." A smile crept over her features. "It changes everything, when he really knows that his child is there, soon to meet him in person." It made all the discomfort worth it.
"And, there are more presents for you. Shall we do that first or discuss business?" She tried to make it sound light, she didn't want Clara to think she was judging her work, nor bearing any dire news, but there were issues that needed to be settled.
Her third? Oh how sad. Clara frowned, "Sorry to hear that. This time it will go better." Not that she could know such a thing. But it would be heartbreaking for Emeline to lose another child.
"But..make sure you take it real easy out on that ranch. You need to be very careful," Clara advised, it only made sense really.
Emeline had some advice for her too.
"Have you let him feel the baby kick." A smile crept over her features. "It changes everything, when he really knows that his child is there, soon to meet him in person."
"No, the timing has been off. When the baby was kicking, Jacob was not around. But I assure you that Jacob is as eager for this birth to happen as I am. I think he will make a fine father even as mine was....well, is still," Clara answered.
"And, there are more presents for you. Shall we do that first or discuss business?"Emeline gave her a choice.
"Oh...well, business of course. I am certain you will want to get a full report on your diner. I have kept meticulous records, daily sales, expenses, profits, losses. Fortunately the loss column is on the small side. I hope...I think you will be pleased with the diner's financial situation. I did the very best I could," Clara responded solemnly.
"I can take the books with me and look them over," Emeline commented, not that she doubted Clara at all, but she was still curious to see how the young woman had done. Cooking was one thing, but managing a budget, ordering, turning a profit, that was all daunting, and not one of Emeline's favorite things.
"You did a lot of work, I can tell just by the fact that the place is still up and running, and no lack of customers." She grinned widely. "I'm proud of you, and I think it's only right that you keep the profits." It was only right, considering the work that had been put in, and with the baby coming, the money would come in handy.
"The other thing, is would you like to stay on, as manager, just...whatever it is you've been doing. There's a lot going on for us out at the ranch, but I could come in one or two days a week to give you a break...and then there's the matter of the baby."
At some point, the pregnancy would force her to take some time off, but when and how long was a personal thing, and Emeline suspected that Clara would push through to the last minute, then pick up again as soon as she could.
"Regardless, the apartment upstairs is yous as long as you'd like."
Clara's eyes went wide, "Keep the profits? But you own the place."
She knew Emeline to be an incredibly generous woman but this was stunning. But there was more.
"The other thing, is would you like to stay on, as manager, just...whatever it is you've been doing," offered the other woman.
"Really?" Clara blinked.
"There's a lot going on for us out at the ranch, but I could come in one or two days a week to give you a break...and then there's the matter of the baby."
"Ummm, well, yes, the baby will have to show up sometime," Clara half-smiled, she would so glad when that blessed day (or night) finally came. She prayed daily it would be a healthy one.
It sounded like a golden opportunity, regular work and wages or salary or whatever a manager gets, doing something she loved. It was already plain that Jacob had no desire to be a farmer and frankly, she did not want to be a farmer's wife. She liked it in town.
And one other gift from the kindly woman.
"Regardless, the apartment upstairs is yours as long as you'd like."
Despite her aversion to showing one's emotions, a trickle of a tear came down one cheek as Clara struggled to keep it together.
"You are so wonderful to me! Your husband married a saint," she sniffled then continued, "Very well then, I will accept your generous offer to manage the diner. And also you coming in to spell me at times, but only when it does not interfere with your life out on that ranch of yours. And Jacob and I were worrying about where we would live upon your return. He even said it might have to be with Granny Miggins and I told him 'over my dead body'. This is just amazing. I would say I am speechless but then you know I never am at a loss for words."
"No, Clara..." It was a bit awkward to see the young woman so emotional. "You're as close as I have to family here, and all you've done so we could have a nice honeymoon..." After all, if she'd had to shut the business down while they were gone, it would have been hard to get it running again.
"I'm quite relieved that you don't have to live with Granny Miggins!" Emeline laughed, then shook her head. "I married a wonderful, generous man. And he's far wealthier than I had ever imagined." This wasn't something she would discuss with just anyone, but as a business partner and near-sister, Clara needed to know.
"We discussed the Lickskillet quite a bit, and it mostly hinges on what you want to do. I'm loathe to give it up, I'm really proud that I was able to make a good living on my own." She laughed. "We even discussed making it into a library, although I suppose we could set up a corner for a book exchange if you'd like. We're going to do well, and I'm excited that our children are going to grow up together!"
This was quite the conversation, just as Emeline's life was changed for the better, now so was Clara's. The Lickskillet was not just a temporary job but a permanent one. That and she and Jacob could stay upstairs as long as they desired. So life was suddenly easier, well not that kind of easy but more certain. Things were locked in now. And just in time too, what with the baby coming in December.
"I'm quite relieved that you don't have to live with Granny Miggins!" Emeline laughed, then shook her head. "I married a wonderful, generous man. And he's far wealthier than I had ever imagined."
Clara even cracked a smile thru the one tear running down her cheek, it was rather disgraceful of her to get so emotional, that was not her. A bit of levity helped.
"Well, I married a poor man but he too is wonderful and I love him dearly," she declared, sniffling.
"We discussed the Lickskillet quite a bit, and it mostly hinges on what you want to do. I'm loathe to give it up, I'm really proud that I was able to make a good living on my own." Emeline laughed. "We even discussed making it into a library, although I suppose we could set up a corner for a book exchange if you'd like. We're going to do well, and I'm excited that our children are going to grow up together!"
"Much as I like the concept of a library, I do think the townsfolk would much prefer an eatery over books. I am delighted to be able to keep it going. The library's time will come. After all soon we will have a hospital up and running. And rumors are the railroad is looking to come our way. Kalispell has a good future ahead of it just as we do," Clara pointed out.
ooc: Ready to wrap this one up soon?